Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It goes to the liquidator. It is very disappointing to hear that again today. Deputy Pearse Doherty referred to the cutting of ribbons. We all want the schools open. The Minister has indicated that he cannot intervene. I am sure, however, that on the day the schools open, he will be there to cut the ribbon. We have been informed that he cannot interfere and that nothing can be done. I assure the committee that when those schools are opened, no one is more certain to be in attendance than the Minister and the various Ministers of State in the Department. They will all be trying to cut the ribbons. We are fighting to get subcontractors the money for which they worked and which they used to pay for materials. The position is just unacceptable. It is very disappointing that the Dáil has gone into recess and that this matter is no further along. We know that legislation needs to be passed because the system is flawed. We are no further on and a commitment has not been given to the subcontractors. In that context, I have again asked about the retention money that has gone into the liquidation.

These proceedings have not brought us much further along. Hopefully, we will get this resolved because that is what needs to happen. We all want the schools to be opened. We all want to the ribbons to be cut. However, the latter cannot happen unless we get a commitment that the subcontractors will get the money they are due for work that they have done and materials they have supplied. I hope the Department will look at this matter in a different light and that the officials will come back to us with something substantial.